Different view on traffic data
Dear Editor,
I refer to the article on page 8 of the January 4 edition regarding crime, road traffic accident (RTA) and road traffic casualty (RTC) data.
In the article, it is claimed that “a renewed focus on road safety offences has led to [RTCS] almost halving from 150 to 79 - with fatal [RTAS] falling from seven to one and [seriously injured RTCS] going down from 59 to 36”.
While this may be true, it appears to be have been derived from a comparison of data for the six-months period April
2022 to September 2022, with a preceding period, presumably October 2021 to March 2022. These are rather short periods in the context of RTAS.
Readers are assured [by Chief Superintendent Alan Gibson, Divisional Commander for Forth Valley] that Forth Valley (presumably Clackmannanshire, Falkirk and Stirling unitary council areas combined) is “bucking” a national fatal RTC trend. But is it?
And where is the evidence linking the “renewed focus” to a change in road traffic accident related data?
There may be an association, but readers should be told whether it is causal.
A further concern is the small size of the numbers involved, inevitable given the short periods chosen.
When attempting to identify trends it is better (and more usual) to compare rolling five-year averages (5ya) as this “smooths” wild variations such as that from seven to one (in six months!) quoted in the article.
Interested readers would be better advised to examine the Department for Transport’s finalised data. From those, it can seen that the 5ya number of RTCS (of all severities) fell from 444 to 367 at the ends of the five year periods ending 2020 and 2021 respectively. Hardly halved.
The equivalent numbers for fatal RTAS were 8.6 and 10.0 and for fatal RTCS were 9.2 and 10.6.
So Forth Valley may not be “bucking” a national trend.
For seriously injured RTCS the numbers were 138 and 120.
The recent epidemic will, almost certainly, have influenced the numbers, given the reduced traffic volumes experienced during its course.
Andrew Fraser Stirling
Dear Editor,
With the cost of living soaring, economic uncertainty after the pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine affecting fuel costs, it is a tough time for many.
Added to this, with socalled Blue Monday and many facing challenging circumstances, it is important to ensure that we offer support to those who are struggling with financial difficulties and mental and physical ill-health.
The RAF and its people are resilient and fantastic at facing fear, mitigating risk and getting the job done.
But sometimes life throws a spanner in the works.
And you can’t simply rely on your training, on your professional skills, or your can-do attitude; you need additional support.
And that’s where the RAF Benevolent Fund comes in.
We’re here to support RAF personnel – past and present - in need during those times when there’s no manual to follow. The RAF Benevolent Fund is here for the RAF Family, providing practical, financial and emotional support to RAF personnel, veterans and their partners and dependents.
If you’re part of the RAF Family or you know someone who is struggling this winter, please get in touch, we’re here to help, and want to help.
Air Commodore Paul Hughesdon